The Enthusiasts! NYC Wine Club: The Mediterranean

It's May, which means warmer weather (finally!), getting outside on the streets of NYC (or for some of us - gazing outside from the confines of the library for finals) and dreaming of vacations. So, t

his month The Enthusiasts! are going to be exploring the wines of the Mediterranean!

Photo Source: 

http://www.thecultureconcept.com/circle/wine-women-and-song-a-tripartite-motto-for-all-time

The Mediterranean. It's a sea, it's a delicious cuisine type, and it's a wine region. But, what does the region really encompass in terms of countries, history and wine? Well, that is what we are here to find out! This post will provide an introduction to wine from the Mediterranean region and focus on wines from Greece, Croatia, Israel, Lebanon, and Turkey.

Greece

Greece is one of the oldest wine making regions in the world. Evidence reveals that they have been making wine for over 6,500 years. Thus no discussion on wines from the Mediterranean would be complete without Greek wine. 

In terms of terrain, Greece is the third most mountainous country in Europe. Thus, most of the vineyards are located on the slopes. While one may assume that the weather in Greece is more coastal Mediterranean, in reality the mountain regions have a continental climate with sunshine, mild winters, dry summers and cool evenings. One unique factor about Greece is the volcanic soil which yields interesting wines.

Most Popular Grapes

The three major white grapes are: (1) Assytiko, (2) Moschofilero, and (3) Roditis.

Assytiko is commonly grown in Santorini, a region known for its volcanic soil (which sometimes adds a pungent component to the wine). 

The two major red grapes are: (1) Agiorgitiko and (2) Xinomavro.

Xinomavro is a unique grape, which literal translation means "acid black." Like the name implies, wines made from this grape tend to be darker and contain higher acidity because the grape ripens late. 

Most Popular Greek Wine Regions

The most notable wine-growing regions in Greece include:

(1) Macedonia

(Northern Greece) including Naoussa and Amynedo; 

(2) Peloponnese

(Southern Greece) including Mantinia, Nemea and Patras; and

(3) The Islands

 including Santorini, Samos, Rhodes and Crete.

Greek wines are regulated in similar appellations to that of other European wine making countries. There are three main categories:

1. Onomasia Proelefsis Anoteras Poiotitos (O.P.A.P.), Wines of Appellation of Origin of Superior Quality, which includes mostly dry wines
2. Onomasia Proelefsis Eleghomeni (O.P.E.), Wines of Appellation of Controlled Origin, which includes mostly sweet wines, and
3. Epitrapezios Oinos, similar to France's Vin de table category which does not involve an appellation of origin and may include blended wines from different regions.

You may also see "cava" which refers to more prestigious aged "reserve blends." Not to be confused with Cava from Spain, the awesome white sparkling wine. The minimum aging for whites is typically 2 years and for reds is 3 years. X. Some labels may also include the term "retsina," which refers to a traditional greek wine making process where the wine is flavored with pine resin. Restina wine is usually white or rose style and the unique flavor associated with this style of wine is said to date back to the Greek tradition of sealing wine vessels with resin. I have yet to taste a bottle, but when I do, I will share what the flavor is like! (I am hoping it does not taste like a pine tree car freshener!)

On a final note, when searching for quality Greek wines, the following vintages are known as safe bets: 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Croatia

You may not know, but Croatia is a wine powerhouse with over 100 indigenous grapes. Croatia has 2 major grape growing regions, 12 sub-regions and 71 appellations. The style of Croatian wine varies greatly given its diverse landscape. In the north, where the landscape is more continental, the wines are rich, fruity, and similar to those of Austria or Slovenia. Likewise, wine from the northern Istrian coat mirror big Mediterranean style of its Italian neighbors, or, wines from the harsher climate of the Dalmatian Islands are significantly different from wines made in the north.

Most Popular Grapes

Some of the most popular grapes grown in Croatia include: (1) 

Graševina, a white varietal that serves as the backbone of the Crotian wine industry; (2) 

Malvazija, an adaptable white varietal used primarily in northern coast, and; (3) 

Plavac Mali, the leading indigenous red varietal used in the Dalmation islands known for its bold flavor and strong tannins.

Photo Source: 

http://erinamsili.blogspot.com/

2011/02/wine-tasting-in-israel.html

Israel & 

Lebanon

While it may be politically questionable to discuss these two countries together under one heading, I subscribe to the philosophy that all is fair game when discussing wine - and these two countries are linked in more ways than one.

Modern Israeli wine production was founded by Baron Edmond de Rothschild with the founding of Carmel winery in 1882. Since then, five primary wine-making regions have emerged including: (1) Galil, (2) Judean Hills, (3) Shimshon, (4) Negev, and (5) the Sharon Plain. But, in terms of grapes, you will see the traditional French varietals, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnary and the like.

Modern Lebanese wine production, on the other hand, can be traced to Chateau Ksara which was founded in  1857. Today, most if not all of the quality wineries are located in the Bekaa Valley. Though, like Israel, most of the varietals grown in Lebanon are non-indigenous  including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cinsaut, Carigan and Grenache. The blog has yet to discuss the Carigan grape - which is a Spanish grape grown extensively in southern France and California. Cinsaut is a robust and bright grape found mostly in southern Rhone.

Turkey

Believe it or not, but Turkey has the fourth-largest area growing grape wines in the world (after Spain, Italy and France). Though given its predominantly Muslim population, these vines are used to grow table grapes or currants rather than produce grapes for wine. The grapes that are used to produce wine are produced in the following key regions: (1) Marmara (Thracian), and (2) Aegean. Most of the grapes are non-indigenous. 

Now this is where it gets complicated, since major wine powerhouses like Spain, Southern France and Italy technically all have coast lines on the Mediterranean - they could be considered producers of "Mediterranean wine." However, to keep things simple (and this post shorter) we will leave these countries out of the discussion ... for now.

Though if you really can't wait, be sure to check out my earlier posts on

Italy! 

 Now go enjoy some Mediterranean wines!

Cheers!

Introduction to Italy: The Results!

Dear Enthusiasts! This post has been a long time coming - the results from the wine club's Italian wine tasting! The club's gathering on Italian wines was a little less formal and more like a family meal (which was awesome!). We had antipasti, foccacia, and pasta to enjoy with our wine. Since this meeting was less formal, this results post will provide more detail on the grapes behind these wines instead of the traditional detailed review of the individual wines.

For those who hate surprises --

 we tasted the following wines:

 (1) Pinot Grigio, (2) Soave, (3) Chianti Classico, and (4) Montepulciano d'Abruzzo.

(1) Pinot Grigio

As previously mentioned, Pinot Grigio is an Italian white wine (the most popular white in Italy) that does not get much love from the wine experts. It's typically criticized for its subtle and sometimes nonexistent flavor. However, despite its lack of popularity with the cool kids, a quality Pinot Grigio can surprise you with its freshness. Its most commonly grown in Italy's northern regions, including: Alto Adige, Friuli-Venezia Guilia, and Lombardy. 

Wine Tasted:

Villa Sonia Pinot Grigio Venezia, 2012

Grapes:

100% Pinot Grigio

Taste:

Apple, pear and melon with a clean finish.

Wine Tasting:

 For the price, I would recommend this wine as a great summer sipper or something to enjoy outside with food. The scent consisted of a honeysuckle aroma. Personally, I felt the taste was a bit too mild and I was hoping for a brighter fruit flavor. 

The group says...

that the wine was refreshing and drinkable. In particular, the Pinot Grigio lovers were satisfied and would buy this wine again. 

(2) Soave

Soave is a misunderstood Italian white wine. Once a powerhouse white in the U.S. during the 70s and 80s, it saw a decline in popularity in the 1990s. The culprit for this decline? None other than the rapper named Gerardo (never heard of him?). He was made famous for his one hit wonder, "Rico Suave," and check out video

here

. Seriously! An article in the

NYTimes

discussed a correlation between the release of this song and decline in popularity of Soave wine in the U.S. 

Despite the effects of "Rico Suave," Soave remained popular in Italy. And, remember that Soave is the name of the

wine region

 and not the main grape in the wine. The primary grape in wines from the Soave region is actually called Garganega (You may see it blended with Trebbiano or Chardonnay). Garganega ripens later in the season and is known for its acidity. You may also see either

classico

 or

superiore

on the label. If you have the choice between the two, go for classico. It refers to wine grown on the hillside, which means the land is less fertile and the grapes struggle a bit more (and we want our grapes to struggle - it means greater flavors!). Superiore, on the other hand, comes from the flat lands, or valley floor, which has more fertile land and prevents the grapes from struggling.

Wine Tasted:

 Pieropan 2010 Soave Classico

Grapes:

 Garganega

Taste:

 Light and crisp taste with vibrant flavors of citrus, apple, pear and tangerine.

Wine Tasting:

 The label says this wine has a brilliant straw yellow color with intense fruit aromas and long lasting fruit forward flavor.

The group says ...

 they agreed! Personally, I have always loved Soave because it's a lot like Sauvignon Blanc (acidity!). The group loved the freshness. 

(3) Chianti

Chianti is one of the most popular wine of Tuscany (one of the most beautiful wine regions in Italy, and definitely on my must see list!). Remember the three levels: (1) Chianti, (2) Chianti Classico, and (3) Chianti Classico Riserva. Just in case the Italian classification system was not complex enough... they introduced a fourth level -

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione.

This new top level must be produced solely from estate-grown grapes and sold at least 30 months after harvest. 

With that said, there is a lot (a lot!) to learn about Chianti that likely needs its own post, so let's get to the wine tasted by the group!

Wine:

 Costello D'albola Chianti Classico

Grapes:

 Approximately 80% Sangiovese

Taste:

Medium body with firm tannins and medium acidity followed by bright red fruit flavor.

Wine Tasting:

The group says...

 the wine had a spicy component and a balanced taste. Personally, I don't love Chianti. No real reason why, the taste just seems hit or miss. But the group thought this moderate flavor of this wine was worth recommending to friends.

(4) Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Montepulciano is a red wine grape grown primarily in central Italy and Italy's second most produced grape, after sangiovese. Wine made from the montepulciano grape is known for soft flavors, strong colors and moderate tannins. It is recommended that these wines are consumed in their youth and with food.

Wine:

Per Linda Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

Grapes:

 At least 85% Montepulciano (can be blended with sangiovese)

Taste:

Moderate acidity with deep cherry and plum flavor

Wine Tasting:

The group says ...

this was by far the groups favorite. They appreciated the complex flavor and noted that it paired well with food. Definitely try this wine!

That brings this (long time coming) post on the group's Italian wine tasting to a close. Until next time!

Cheers!

Photo Confessions: Remember and Remain Optimistic

Photo of the Empire State Building from Lower Manhattan during the blackout.

It's been a while for photo confessions, but this week I thought I restart the trend channeling a more serious tone than this blog is used to. Given the recent events of the week in Boston, Texas and around the world - it is important to remember to be thankful for what you have and if hard times are upon you - remain optimistic!

Last year, New York was rocked by hurricane Sandy, leaving most downtown residents literally in the dark (the photo above was taken on my daily walk home from a friend's place uptown - I stayed in my powerless apartment at night - and yes it was that dark). Now, months later, while most Americans are focused on other things, many people in the hardest hit areas of New York and New Jersey are still feeling the effects. Similarly, when the newscasters stop reporting on the developments of the Boston marathon, I know many in Boston will not forget where they were on that day. So, on this Friday afternoon, be thankful, remember those lost and remain optimistic. I leave you with the words of Maya Angelou...

You may shoot me with your words,

You may cut me with your eyes,

You may kill me with your hatefulness,

But still, like air, I'll still rise

An excerpt from I Still Rise, by Maya Angelou

Cheers!

The Enthusiasts! NYC Wine Club: Pinot Grigio vs. Pinot Noir

Dear Readers! I know it has been a while, but the wine club is finally getting back together, and this month's topic is: a comparison of pinot noir and pinot grigio!

You may be thinking - the name of these two grapes are similar, are they related? Well, Pinot noir is a noble red grape and ancient variety whose origin, while somewhat unclear, can be traced to Burgundy, France. On the other hand, pinot grigio/gris is a white grape that emerged as a mutation of pinot noir. How these genetic mutations occur would take hours, days, weeks, years ... well a long time to research and explain (at least for our purposes). Yet, for our discussion it is beneficial to know that research suggests the mutation of two essential genes in a red grape parent (thousands of years ago) is responsible for the creation of the multiple white grape vines, including pinot grigio, in existence today. Pretty cool!

So what is the story on Pinot Noir?

Photo Source: www.kenbrownwines.com

Name Origin:

 Pinot noir is a red (that looks almost black) wine grape whose name is derived from the French words for "pine" and "black."

Famous Regions:

 Pinot noir grows best in Burgundy, Champagne, California, and Oregon.

Preferred Climate:

Pinot noir grows only in cool climates. Fog, cool ocean breezes and cool nights are beneficial for the cultivation of pinot noir grapes. 

Flavor:

 Grape flavors include; raspberries, red cherry, high-acidity. Winemaking flavors include; smoky and earthy.

Generally, pinot noir is one of five high-acid grapes. The other four include: riesling, chenin blanc, barbera and sangiovese. Acidity is a very important component of wine, especially when balanced with the fruit component. Overly acidic wine will likely taste tart or sour.

The most notable (and expensive) bottles of pinot noir are produced in Burgundy and Oregon. These wines can be somewhat pricey (say at least $30 for a quality bottle) because pinot noir is tempermental and difficult grape to grow. However, if you are looking for a cheap alternative that still maintains quality - you should check out New Zealand pinot noir. Now, you may find some negative press about New Zealand pinot noir. Back in 2011, the NYTimes

crew

reviewed 20 bottles of New Zealand pinot noir. They spent most of the article hating on their 2008 and 2009 selections of New Zealand pinot noir, concluding they were "friendly ... wines you would serve at a neighborhood block party ... and boring." Firstly, I see nothing wrong with an affordable quality wine that is served at a neighborhood party. And secondly, as with most bargain wines, you will have to do some experimenting to find a good bottle for you and New Zealand pinot noir is definitely worth experimenting.

And Pinot Grigio?

Photo Source 

beausbarrelroom.blogspot.com

Name Origin:

Pinot gris is a white grape variety whose name is derived from the French words for "pine" and "grey." Pinot grigio is a synonym used in Italy. Both names reference the color grey because of the grapes typical greyish-blue color.

Famous Regions:

  Pinot gris grows best in Alsace. 

Pinot grigio grows best in Italy, California, and Oregon.

Preferred Climate:

Cooler climate.

Flavor:

 Pear, apple, lemon and mineral. 

Pinot gris from Alsace is both rich, complex, and spicy.

 Pinot grigio from Italy lacks this spicy complexity and commonly has less flavor. 

Today, pinot grigio/gris is a widely cultivated and fast expanding mid-color grape. However, it's growth in popularity has yet to catch its growth in cultivation. Generally, it is beneficial to discuss pinot grigio and pinot gris separately, however, remember that these two wines are made from the

same grape.

 It is the climate, soil, and winegrowing area (aka terroir!!) that makes these two wines so different. Let's discuss pinot gris first. Pinot gris of Alsace (and also Oregon) are crisp, fuller bodied and more aromatic. Pinot gris also offers complex flavors of tree fruits and even almonds.

Alternatively, pinot grigio is the most popular white wine produced in Italy. Pinot grigio has a nice, crisp, and dry white wine with a neutral flavor. Generally, the more expensive the pinot grigio, the more likely the wine will have fuller body and flavor. The best pinot grigios have crisp acidity, citrus flavor and a hint of minerality.

Thus concludes my introduction of pinot noir and pinot grigio - stand by for the results from the group!

Cheers!

Spain: Bienvenidos a Madrid!

Third and final post from Spain - Madrid!

 We finally made it to our final destination - Madrid - after a crazy car ride from Barcelona and a lovely stop in Zaragoza. Today's topics include: history on Madrid, Museo del Prado, food and wine (of course!) and final thoughts on the Vis Competition for team Cardozo overall!

Starting with my usual favorite - history! One of the cutest pieces of history (and of course history can be

cute!

) was Madrid's coat of arms (pictured below). The shield is a bear sable supported on a strawberry tree. This coat of arms can trace its foundation back to the Battle of Law Navas de Tolosa in 1212, where the troops sent in support of the Christian King carried a flag with the statant bear on a silver field. For those who want to get really nerdy about coat of arms, statant refers to the

attitude 

(yes, attitude!), or position, of the animal on the shield. Specifically, statant means that the animal is standing (either on 2 or 4 feet).

A statute of the the coat of arms is located in the Puerta del Sol which is the famous center of Madrid. Interestingly, this busy city center is also the center of the radial network of Spanish roads (thus the literal center of Spain).

After walking through the Puerta del Sol, the group headed to Mercado de San Miguel. This place is a definite must see (or must eat-at rather) because everything, and I mean literally, everything in here looked delicious. Then, the group headed to the Royal Palace of Madrid and I was surprised to learn that this is still the resident of the Spanish Royal family. Yes, Spain still has a monarchy, similar to that of England. The current monarchy is led by King Juan Carlos I and his wife Queen Sofia. Preserving the monarchy is very popular in Spain, with approximately 75% of the population in support.

After we walk around the courtyards of the Palace (again we did not go in because the line was way too long) we headed to the Museo del Prado. This museum was established in 1819 and is the primary national art museum of Spain. While it houses a staggering amount of European art from the 12th-19th centuries, it is known for its Spanish art collection. 

The most famous collection of Spanish art features Fransisco de Goya. It was very exciting to see the masterpieces in person, including Goya's Saturn painting. However, (and without getting to political on art) Goya's Black Paintings are... well depressing. Other notable artists include: Rubens, Rembrandt, and Titian. After the museum, we headed across the street to relax with a bottle of wine. Service was relatively slow... I mean Spanish ... I mean slow. Though we didn't care because we were only interested in drinking wine. Eventually, the wait staff decided we were all so charming that they poured us shots on the house. These shots were more like digestifs, or digestive liquers served after the meal. They are usually taken straight (which they were) and typically include brandy, bitter liquers (which I received) or sweet liquers. I never had a chance to write down the brand names, but one was an apple liquer, the second taste like Jagermeister (bitter in taste, brown in color) and the third like chartruese (herbal in taste, yellow in color). I would definitely recommend the yellow disgetif. After our drinks, we took a quick stroll through Retiro Park and then headed back into the city center.

Most importantly, we stopped at the famous Chocolateria San Gines for hot chocolate and churros. This is the place for churros in Madrid. The hot chocolate is dark chocolate and served much thicker than anything available in the U.S. Similarly, the churros are different because they are not covered in cinnamon and sugar. This was the perfect snack after a day of touring. Though, I wouldn't have hated the addition of a little cinnamon to the hot chocolate or the churros.

That night we also headed to a great Paella restaurant, called La Barraca. There, we ordered some traditional paella and arroz negra (black rice). Both were excellent and this restaurant is worth visiting when in Madrid. 

And as usual, a discussion of food would not be complete without a discussion on wine. I wanted to briefly introduced the wine region that received the most attention during my visit to Spain - Rioja.

Rioja is one of Spain's major wine region. Specifically, it is the principal red-wine producing region. One of the most important grapes for rioja is tempranillo. Tempranillo is known for producing long-lived and complex wines. Another principle grape in rioja is garnacha. If you are looking for rioja, be sure to look the differences in the three major levels: (1) crianza - 2 years of aging, minimum 1 in oak barrels; (2) reserva - 3 years aging, minimum 1 in oak barrels; and (3) gran reserva - 5 to 7 years of aging, minimum 2 years in oral barrels. 

And those were some of the key highlights from our day in Madrid. It was a great trip full of awesome memories, wine and food. Until next time!

Cheers!

Happy Easter - Feliz Pascua - Frohe Ostern

Second post from Spain!

Happy Easter to those celebrating! In light of the holiday, today's post provides a general comparison of Easter celebrations (and typical treats) in the United States, Spain and Austria.

Easter in the United States.

 Specifically speaking, (and not trying to get too religious) Easter is the Christian celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus. Personally however, most of my childhood memories from Easter involve waking up to an Easter basket filled with candy, the family gathering for an Easter lunch, and the ever important Easter egg hunt. While these are very found memories, in comparison, it seems that Easter celebrations in the United States (like basically every other holiday) bigger and more mass-consumerized compared to the celebrations of Europe. 

In the U.S., most secular Easter celebrations are centered around the children. American families purchase an excess of plastic eggs, baskets, fake grass, bunnies, toys and candy. In fact, I learned that Easter is the second best candy selling holiday - after Halloween. (My favorite are starburst jelly beans!). Other common American traditions include dying Easter eggs, Easter egg hunts (which start off inclusive as small children, but may morph into heated competitions as the siblings get older), Easter egg rolls (at the White House), and Easter parades. Overall, Americans still remember and celebrate the religious reasons behind Easter, however, whether or not one attends a religious ceremony rather than simply take a day off to spend with their family depends more on the individual family tradition.

Easter in Spain.

The Spanish population is approximately 73% Catholic and, as a result, Easter is the second most celebrated holiday after Christmas. Overall, it seems that their traditions are similar to those of the United States, which include parades, family gatherings, candy and Easter eggs. However, these Spanish celebrations seem (at least from the outside) more religious and less consumerized than those of the U.S.

For example, it seems that many Spanish stores still feature candy and chocolate eggs. See the pictures featured below, on the right, a common window front with chocolate eggs and cakes, on the left, a similar (but more high end window) complete with a large chocolate chicken and cute paper chicks. However, it seems less popular to spend time decorating the eggs.

Further, these displays are different from the United States because: (1) They were way more difficult to find (and not literally on every street corner and in every store), and (2) people did not seem to buy a lot of these goods. Similarly, (though I have yet to see one in Barcelona) in much of the south of Spain, night time processions/parades seem popular during the Holy Week. These processions involve incense, candles, drums and cloak covered penitents. Overall, it seems the Spanish focus is on family time and remembering the religion behind Easter. (Stay tuned for updates as I was invited to join a Spanish family for their Easter dinner and may provide updates on their traditional dishes).

UPDATE! Our stop in Zaragosa

Kelley and RH in a cool alley of shops and bars

In addition to the the adventures outlined in this post previously, our group also made a stop in Zaragoza on Easter Sunday. Zaragoza is the capital city of the province. The drive to and from was interesting for two key reasons. First, our vehicle of choice (to which I lovingly referred to as the party van) was basically the normal size of an American sedan. However, in Europe it is commonly used as a cargo van - but we all loved it. Second, while the drive started as mostly highway, once we left town the landscape quickly started to resemble an exotic nature reserve. The area is known for its varying landscapes, ranging from deserts to think forest, meadows and mountains. The area always seemed like it should be abandoned of all civilization, yet every couple miles I would see people hiking, biking or picnicking - it was definitely a great area. Finally, if you have the opportunity to drive through, look for the large wooden black bulls that line the highway. Apparently, these bulls were former advertisements for alcohol and now line the highway as a community cultural symbol. I counted 10 on my trip - I dare you to do better!

Once we finally arrived in Zaragoza, we stopped in for a visit with a local Spanish family. This opportunity to break bread with a local family was by far one of the most rewarding experiences of the trip. Most of us did not speak the same language, but it was a great learning experience and delicious meal. Speaking of meal! The meal we had for Easter lunch was crazy! This was not your average protein and two sides but and 5 course feast. We started with traditional Spanish noodle soup, then cabbage and chickpeas with olive oil. At this rate, most of the group was already completely full. But like the treatment we were used to from our grandmothers (x100) - it was impossible to say no because the hostess was constantly serving us food. The final courses included a meat course, which feature beef, chorizo and blood sausage, and the dessert course, featuring both fresh fruit and traditional pastry. 

After this delicious and extremely filling meal, we took to the local streets for a walk. This tour included a walk through downtown, viewing ancient roman ruins (like the roman bridge picture on the left) and the roman cathedral

Catedral de Salvador.

 If you visit the cathedral, note the two unexploded bombs on the wall - during the civil war they were dropped on the cathedral and the fact that neither exploded was deemed a miracle!

Easter in Austria.

 While Austria subscribes to the typical Easter icons/symbols including, flowers, eggs, chickens, and hares, Austrians practice some unique differences. One of may favorites was the Ostermarkt. I am unsure if these are common within every village or only the big cities, but I wish they were common in the United States. These markets pop up during the Easter season and are filled with local vendors selling snacks, candy, gifts and Easter eggs. Generally, while this seems similar to the U.S. focus on candy and eggs, there is definitely a higher quality to these goods in Austria. For example the Easter eggs are not plastic but are made with more craftsmanship than that of the U.S. (see the picture featured below on the right - those are hundreds of hand painted eggs). 

The Ostermarkts also feature food stands that sell pretzels, chocolate, and warm drinks such as gluhvein. These markets differ from those in the U.S. because patrons are encouraged to buy a drink and stand at tables set up in the market and mingle with neighbors and friends. I really enjoyed how this tradition was more about gathering with neighbors than grabbing your snack and heading back to your car.

Overall, there are definitely common themes within the Easter celebrations in these three countries. However, it is very interesting which elements are focused on and how each culture interprets the common symbols. Happy Easter to you wherever you are!

Cheers!

Spain: Bienvenidos a Barcelona

First post from Spain - Hello from Barcelona!

 We have a limited time in Spain, so this post is packed with information. 

Today's topics: La Rambla, Antoni Gaudi, Cathedral de Barcelona, Mercat de la Boqueria, 

Scammers in Spain, Sangria and Spanish food.

Placa del Portal de la Pau viewed from the waterfront 

The first night in Barcelona we took to the streets and headed for La Rambla. Technically, it is merely a tree-lined street, pedestrian mall and tourist trap in Barcelona. However, it is still worth a trip to witness the architecture, feel the history and experience the crowd (all while keeping a very close eye on your valuables). Historically, La Rambla was not so attractive and originated as a sewage filled stream bed.  However, it was converted into a paved street during the 18th century and has remained a sight to see ever since. Personally, it was refreshing to be outside and near the water.

Casa Batlló

Next, if there is only one name to remember in connection with Barcelona - it is Antoni Gaudi. The man seriously left an impression on this town. Gaudi was a Spanish Catalan architect who lived from 1852-1926.

Gaudi is known for his gothic-inspired modern style. His works embraced romantic catenary curves (an engineering term for a curve that, like a hanging chain or cable, supports its own weight when supported at both ends)

, ceramic mosaics and extensive details. In fact, his most famous work, the Sagrada Familia, is filled with dramatic intricacies that remain unfinished because he died before its completion. All the works we witnessed were inspiring, beautiful and definitely a must see for Barcelona.

Casa Milà

After we toured the famous Gaudi Houses, we ventured in search of something different. In the historic district of Barcelona is seems that there is a church around every corner. One of the most spectacular churches is the Catedral de Barcelona (featured on left). Warning: Do not confuse this gothic masterpiece with Gaudi's Sagrada Familia - because they are different! The Barcelona Cathedral is the home of Archbishop of Spain and was built in mostly during the 14th century.

A common theme to remember when visiting Barcelona (and the reason there are no pictures of the inside of these structures) there is a line to get into practically every. single. structure. So come prepared.

Next, we visited the Mercat de la Boqueria. Historically, this market (known as la Boqueria for short) was first mentioned in 1217. Overtime, the market survived as a general and unofficial market for over 500 years. Then, in 1826 the market was legally recognized and the official structure you can see today was completed by 1914. On our visit today, it was intensely crowded (as with most tourists spots). However, I was a bit thankful for the crowd because I noticed most people were drinking small juices. I eventually learned that most vendors who sold fruits and vegetables also sold fresh squeezed juices. I chose pineapple coconut - and it was awesome! I highly recommend! The remainder of our visit consisted mainly of checking out the vendors, such as: (1) If I had more time I would definitely come here for meat products, and (2) The dried pepper stand was so beautiful (see photo below).

Pepper stand in La Boqueria

Last, but not least, the topics concerning general life in Spain. First things first ... scammers. Now, I considered myself fairly well-traveled. I have been to three continents, do my research before head out, try to blend in, and haggle, haggle, haggle. But, Barcelona may be the exception to my preparation. Initially, the taxi driver from the airport warned us about pick-pockets in La Rambla. Ok - that is easy enough to avoid and thus far we have experienced no problems. But the driver also warned us about other taxi drivers overcharging - no problem we thought - we are from New York. Well, at the end of our first night, we took a taxi home, and were totally scammed. The initial walk took about 30-40 minutes, but took at least 20 via taxi with little traffic and cost almost 13 euro. All in all - I recommend you keep an eye on your taxi driver in Barcelona.

Similarly, we may or may not have had our conversation invaded by a former staff writer for

High Times Magazine

. (Yes, the cannibas afficionados magazine for all you straight edges out there). What do I mean?!? Well, when abroad as an American, I have found that other Americans will frequently join in on the conversation, especially when they have been abroad for some time. Basically, the miss speaking English and want to brush up on their skills. This past evening, we were chatting and minding our own business, then an older gentleman clearly of the flower power/make love not war generation completely crashed the conversation. Generally, he was nice enough until he started asking us not what we wanted to do with our lives, but "what do you want to

do??

" (If you are confused, you are on the right page, because this guy would not take any of our professional goals as an acceptable answer - thus we all were confused). Moral of the story - become fluent in Spanish or speak quietly to avoid conversation crashers. 

Finally, some comments on sangria and Spanish food. In a word - awesome! The tapas style mediterranean fare is a welcome change to the heavy Austrian style food we ate last week. Specifically, the picture below (featured left) is that of a typical Basque tapas restaurant. There, consumers grab a table then head to a buffet of tapas sized snacks. Each has a toothpick holding it together and at the end of the meal the waiter counts the toothpicks and charges you per tapa. Great experience to share with friends!

Long story short, Spain is welcome change from Austria (primarily weather wise) and the group has really seen a lot across one short day of touring. We especially loved the view from Park Guell (see above right) also heavily designed by Gaudi.

Cheers!